The Ultimate Guide to ISC West 2018
SSI’s overview of the annual conference offers a look at educational offerings, networking events, among other activities to help you game-plan a daily schedule.
“When opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare.” — John Wooden
If you’re attending ISC West 2018, consider the above admonition by this college basketball coaching legend a light-hearted prodding that there’s still time to formulate a winning game plan to ensure the best experience.
With so many options to fill your schedule during the big show, preparation will indeed be key to make best use of your time. Produced by Reed Exhibitions and exclusively sponsored by the Security Industry Association (SIA), ISC West 2018 returns to the Sands Expo & Convention Center April 10-13.
Billed as the largest exhibition hall in North America dedicated to security, organizers say they are expecting more than 30,000 installing security contractors, consultants, specifiers, end users and representatives from manufacturers, distributors and central stations, among other industry stakeholders.
The event will also host more than 1,000 exhibitors, showcasing products, technologies and services from across the physical and logical security landscape. A comprehensive educational program aims to prepare attendees to contend with cyber-physical security threats in today’s complex security landscape.
What follows is a conference overview, chocka-block with the details you need to strategically plan your daily itinerary.
SIA Education@ISC, PSA Curriculum
Organizers of the SIA Education@ISC program have assembled more than 85 sessions among numerous tracks of vendor-agnostic physical security and network training. The curriculum qualifies for continuing education (CE) hours with various relevant industry accreditation bodies.
Certificates of attendance will be distributed to all session attendees after the show. Participants who complete sessions through SIA Education@ISC may be eligible to receive ALOA education credits (AEU), ASIS continuing professional education credits (CPE) and NICET continuing professional development points (CPD).
“Each year, our mission is to provide attendees with the knowledge, strategies and tactics they need to fight emerging threats, straight from industry experts who are experiencing the same security concerns,” says Will Wise, group vice president, ISC security portfolio, Reed Exhibitions. “This year is no exception; we’re providing education covering everything from access and ID management to connected security to video surveillance to unmanned systems to IoT and AI, and more.”
The education roster will include a case study of law enforcement uses of unmanned aerial vehicles, featuring a first-hand account of how the Nevada Highway Patrol has pioneered the use of UAVs to investigate motor vehicle crashes.
Also, an active shooter workshop will instruct how to protect and defend from a communications and infrastructure perspective. The SIA Education@ISC courses are structured to allow participants sufficient time to visit the exhibition floor following their session work.
Packages are available for one, two or all three days of sessions, which are labeled by intro, intermediate or advanced levels. A large portion of the overall curriculum is geared toward installing security contractors, including executives, managers, field technicians, central station personnel and others.
SIA will also conduct its Security Project Management (SPM) Training Seminar April 9-11 at the Sands Expo. The SPM course reviews principles of project management, including budgeting, client management, timeline execution and more.
Following the training seminar April 11, SIA will administer the certification exam for the Certified Security Project Manager (CSPM) credential.
PSA Security Network is hosting a six-session track on April 10 that will include a workshop. Members of PSA committees and other industry subject matter experts will conduct sessions focusing on leadership, sales, cybersecurity, marketing, RMR and project management.
Paul Boucherle, principal of Matterhorn Consulting and SSI’s Business Fitness columnist, will lead two of the sessions — “The Key to Executing Business Strategy” and “Essential Leadership Skills for the Emerging Leader.”
Other titles include “Leading Conflict: Using Conflict to Foster Leadership”; “The Art of Client Loyalty: How to Build, Earn, and Retain Loyal Customers”; “Building Managed Service Into Your Business”; and “The Key to Executing Business Strategy.”
PSA Security Network President and CEO Bill Bozeman will lead a panel session, “Cybersecurity Tier Zero: A Guide to the First Steps of Cyber Hardening.” The presentation will introduce attendees to PSA’s Cybersecurity Playbook and Resource Guide, highlighting simple and effective steps that installing security contractors can use to begin implementing their own cyber plan.
Bozeman will be joined by Andrew Lanning (Integrated Security Technologies), Paul Schmick (Alliance Security) and Darnell Washington (SecureXperts). To download a complete educational brochure, visit iscwest.com.
Awards, Activities & Assn. Assemblies
Numerous awards programs, networking events, product showcases and other related goings-on will be held throughout ISC West. Here is a sampling:
Most Valuable Product (MVP) Awards Return to ISC West
SSI will announce winners of the 4th Annual Most Valuable Product (MVP) Awards in Las Vegas on April 10. The objective of the awards program is to illuminate how important products and technologies are to the success of security integration companies. Awards will be given in main and subcategories encompassing access control, fire/life safety, home controls, intrusion detection, video surveillance and more.
A panel of experienced independent integrators and industry consultants will judge entrants based on product design, features and benefits, including the ability of the device to help integrators open up avenues to a potential new customer base, enable integrators to design and install systems faster and thus more profitably, or help integrators gain a profitable margin on the equipment itself. The winning companies will be recognized during SSI’s SAMMY Awards gala at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino (Marco Polo Rooms 801 and 802). The program begins at 4:30 p.m. and is free.
SAMMY Awards & SSI Industry Hall of Fame Induction
SSI invites electronic security professionals from the installation and supplier communities to attend the 23rd Annual SAMMY (Sales and Marketing) Awards, along with the 14th Annual SSI Hall of Fame induction, at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas on April 10.
You can learn more about the SAMMYs and this year’s finalists here, and Hall of Fame inductees on the next page. Also, SSI will host the 4th Annual Most Valuable Product (MVP) Awards. Learn more about the program in the sidebar to the left.
AIREF Golf Classic
The Alarm Industry Research and Education Foundation will host its 15th annual AIREF Golf Classic on April 10. Here, golfers participate in a casual outing with other industry professionals, all the while supporting the organization’s research initiatives. The tournament will be held at the Revere Golf Club and includes breakfast and lunch, plus cocktails following the tournament.
The event is the largest fundraiser for AIREF, a nonprofit organization that serves as the research arm of the electronic security industry. AIREF is engaged in initiatives critical to public safety, consumers and the alarm industry. Complimentary shuttle buses will depart from Treasure Island promptly at 7:15 a.m. and the tournament begins at 8:45 a.m. Buses will return to TI following the post-play reception. Register at airef.org or email [email protected].
New Product Showcase
SIA will announce the recipients of its annual New Product Showcase (NPS) April 11, 3:30 p.m., at the Lobby Stage, located outside the exhibition hall. Established in 1979, each year the NPS program recognizes winners in several product and service categories along with the Judges Choice and Best New Product awards.
There will be a special physical display area where installing security contractors and others can view each of the program’s entrants.
SIA InteropFest
SIA will host its annual networking function to showcase various efforts of its standards program. During the SIA InteropFest attendees can see how technology providers are incorporating interoperability into their devices by leveraging the Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP).
The function, which includes a reception, will be held April 11, 4-7 p.m., at the Sands Convention Center (room Marco Polo 701). Attendance is free to ISC West attendees. To learn more or register, write to [email protected].
Keynotes
- Dr. Douglas Maughan, division director of the Cybersecurity Division in the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA), will present “Re-inventing Cybersecurity R&D: How DHS is Innovating to Deliver More Secure Systems”; April 11 (8:30-9:30 a.m., Venetian Ballroom).
- Deputy Chief Jones of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department will present a brief overview of last year’s concert mass shooting. April 11 (12:15-1:00 p.m., Venetian Ballroom).
- IBM Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor Jeff Crume will present “Hacking Everything: The Dark Side of the Internet of Things”; April 12 (8:30-9:30 a.m., Venetian Ballroom).
ISC’s Got Talent
This socializing shindig will be held April 10, 8-11 p.m., at the Rockhouse Bar, located in the Grand Canal Shoppes. Join more than 300 members of the California Alarm Association, Nevada Security Association, ESA of Utah, Arizona Alarm Association, among more than 20 other organizations for a special welcome reception and mixer. And, if you are wondering — yes! — Dos Associones (SSI Industry Hall of Famers George Gunning and Les Gold) return for a command performance. For more information or to RSVP, call (800) 437-7658.
Leadership Breakfast
Members of local, state and national industry associations will convene April 11, 7:30-8:30 a.m., at the Sands Convention Center (Galileo 1001) to mark the official beginning of ISC West. A keynote address will follow at 8:45 a.m. For more information or to RSVP, call (800) 437-7658.
Nevada Security Association Public Safety Luncheon
April 12, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sands Convention Center (Galileo 1001). NSA hosts the Western states luncheon with a special focus on public safety including guests from police and fire. For more information or to RSVP, call (800) 437-7658.
Read on to see what’s in store on the show floor and for Hall of Fame details…
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
About the Author
Rodney Bosch, Senior Editor
Although Bosch’s name is quite familiar to those in the security industry, his previous experience has been in daily newspaper journalism. Prior to joining SECURITY SALES & INTEGRATION in 2006, he spent 15 years with the Los Angeles Times, where he performed a wide assortment of editorial responsibilities, including feature and metro department assignments as well as content producing for latimes.com. Bosch is a graduate of California State University, Fresno with a degree in Mass Communication & Journalism. In 2007, he successfully completed the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association’s National Training School coursework to become a Certified Level I Alarm Technician.
Related Content
Security Is Our Business, Too
For professionals who recommend, buy and install all types of electronic security equipment, a free subscription to Commercial Integrator + Security Sales & Integration is like having a consultant on call. You’ll find an ideal balance of technology and business coverage, with installation tips and techniques for products and updates on how to add to your bottom line.
A FREE subscription to the top resource for security and integration industry will prove to be invaluable.
